Volume 2

Chapter 70: A Small Shock of Transcendent Economy

The exaggerated sight of fields almost encircled by a golden ocean outside Little Pelican City was due to the territory's lord, following the orders of Count Watson—actually Anselm—allocating ten acres of land to each farmer.

On the twenty acres worked by Henk and Lauriel, over the past seven days, they produced... fifty tons of wheat!

In the most fertile farmlands of the Southern Territory, one acre of wheat typically yielded about five hundred kilograms per harvest.

But with fields transformed by Soil Enhancement Potion, the yield was five times that—reaching a full two and a half tons per acre.

Fifty tons of wheat—what did that mean?

Little Pelican City had a population of just over ten thousand.

The yield from these seven days, even accounting for losses in turning wheat into flour and flour into food, meant each person could receive three to four kilograms of grain.

For an individual, three to four kilograms of grain was enough to live comfortably for half a month.

In seven days, two people produced enough grain to feed the entire city for half a month with surplus.

This could no longer be called farming—it was practically spellcasting... and in theory, it was indeed spellcasting.

So on the eighth day, the second day after the harvest, Little Pelican City's granaries were bursting.

The territory's grain industry erupted.

Grain merchants bought up vast quantities, rushing them to the city's only flour mill and other processing sites.

The flour mill's output was immediately sent to shops, bakeries, pastry stores, and general stores... This barren territory buzzed with unprecedented vitality.

The yield and quality of the wheat were simply too astonishing.

Any merchant in Little Pelican City with a shred of sense vaguely realized this was their chance to strike it rich.

—Those fields would draw the attention of Watson Territory, perhaps even the entire Empire.

However, even with the combined efforts of most merchants in Little Pelican City, the first batch of wheat couldn't be fully absorbed—it was simply too much.

The city's population couldn't consume it all, but the amount processed was still staggering.

The vast sums of cash in the merchants' hands poured into Little Pelican City, becoming farmers' payments, workers' wages, and profits for flour mills and food shops... filling the entire territory with vitality. In this situation, heaps of grain flooded onto the commoners' tables.

These days, every resident of Little Pelican City wore a happy smile.

They would occasionally glance outside the city gates, gazing toward the horizon with hopeful anticipation.

This harvest brought not only food but also numerous jobs.

New flour mills were urgently built, and shops, eager to sell more grain, expanded rapidly, demanding more labor.

On the technical side, wheat processing and flour-to-food production also lacked hands, creating more opportunities.

Everything was moving toward the most beautiful outcome.

While Little Pelican City was immersed in a sea of celebration, fifty tons of wheat had already been quietly transported out of the territory on the second day of the harvest.

Fifty tons—a terrifying amount on its own, but a small fraction of the total yield—silently infiltrated a portion of the grain market in the central city of Watson Territory.

"Perfect, Mr. Moramo."

Rozokaira laughed heartily, clinking glasses with Lauriel.

"Your wheat was snapped up by grain merchants in Qingling City the day it arrived. In three days, all the processed grain sold out! Those merchants went mad asking where I got the wheat... They'll probably find this place soon, but too bad—it's already too late."

The man licked his lips.

"After testing the market, there's no need to hand such a treasure to those guys. I'll build an entire independent grain supply chain in Qingling City... Heavens, seven days—just seven days to produce so much grain."

The voice of Little Pelican City's richest man grew hoarse.

He took a sip of wine to wet his throat, exclaiming, "I've been in business for over thirty years and have never seen such a staggering goldmine. This efficiency will tear Qingling City's grain industry apart—they won't even have time to react before we crush them!"

Facing Rozokaira's fervor, Henk, sitting beside Lauriel, felt both intimidated and unable to suppress his secret joy—a conflicted mix.

He couldn't grasp what Rozokaira meant by "tearing apart" or "crushing," which sounded bad... but the money was just too much.

When Lauriel demanded advance payment, Henk was terrified.

He, who had always been exploited by merchants, had never dared to ask for prepayment, especially from a tycoon like this.

But after a brief pause, Rozokaira agreed cleanly and handed over a sum that nearly blinded Henk—a sum he'd never seen in his life.

Gold coins! Henk had never even seen a single gold coin in his entire life!

Though Lauriel quickly spent the money on things Henk couldn't comprehend, it didn't stop him from being shocked by the sum.

Nor did it stop him... from being thrilled by the future Lauriel described.

"However..."

Rozokaira's smile suddenly faded slightly.

Just the slight downturn of his lips made Henk's heart skip a beat.

"With just the output of you two, occupying Qingling City's grain market over time is no issue, but expanding to all of Watson Territory... that's a bit challenging."

"You can find other farmers," Lauriel said, his short, stout fingers gripping the wine glass, looking somewhat comical.

But his ability to stand up to Rozokaira was something Henk could never imagine doing.

"Of course, I tried. I believe many merchants have tried these past days, but..."

Rozokaira narrowed his eyes.

"They all refused. They all told me, told other merchants..."

"To come to you."

At this, Henk froze, then immediately turned to Lauriel.

Because on the day Lauriel finalized the deal with Rozokaira and received that large advance, he turned around and took the money... to other farmers.

Lauriel told the farmers that merchants couldn't be trusted.

Merchants, of course, couldn't be trusted.

But Lauriel knew, for some reason, the merchants were somewhat trustworthy now.

However, not all farmers could realize this as quickly as he did—or rather, most farmers would never realize it in their lifetime.

Most farmers despised merchants their entire lives.

Lauriel told them the merchants were underpaying for their wheat.

He told them that high-quality wheat could fetch a much higher price.

The farmers, of course, knew how to judge wheat quality.

They also knew how extraordinary the wheat they grew on this magical land was.

So, unsurprisingly, they believed Lauriel.

They believed their wheat should sell for more, that they were being exploited again.

But they lacked the courage to confront the merchants.

For them, holding onto this farmland was already a great fortune.

None dared to challenge the merchants.

So Lauriel told them, "I'll negotiate for you and get the payment you deserve."

He showed the other farmers the advance he got from Rozokaira.

Undoubtedly, Rozokaira was far more generous than any merchant in Little Pelican City, because he wasn't selling this special wheat in the small confines of Little Pelican City but in Qingling City, the heart of Watson Territory.

This meant he could sell the wheat at a higher price, and he did.

He also gave Lauriel and Henk a payment that was extravagant for farmers—paid in advance, no less, while other farmers were still haggling with merchants.

This clearly stirred the farmers, who saw their wheat bought at low prices by other merchants in Little Pelican City, with prices later suppressed further due to market saturation.

Finally, Lauriel gave the farmers an offer they couldn't refuse.

"Little Pelican City can't handle this much grain. Our grain will surely sell across Watson Territory. With such quality, it can fetch higher prices. Why let merchants and nobles exploit us? If you're worried or afraid, leave it to me. Let me negotiate."

Thus, Lauriel, sitting here now, held the grain supply rights of the farmers.

Because he had truly secured the money—lots of it, in advance.

And if he handled the negotiations, any issues wouldn't fall on them.

If this guy tried anything shady, they could just stop working with him.

After all, they could grow another batch in seven days at minimal cost.

The farmers had every reason to let Lauriel handle the negotiations.

But what was trivial to the farmers was an entirely different matter for the merchants.

—Because they couldn't use any "unjust" means to seize control of the wheat or future grain production from Lauriel.

Moreover, Lauriel was now backed by Rozokaira, the richest man in Little Pelican City.

From every angle, this stout farmer was a formidable problem.

"Out of curiosity, I looked into your background, Mr. Moramo," Rozokaira said suddenly.

"Your father spent all his savings to send you to a second-tier transcendent being, just to be his assistant... no, more like a laborer, a servant. But at least it was better than being a farmer."

"So..." The man leaned forward slightly.

"That's why you're so much smarter than other farmers. Even a second-tier transcendent being—knowledge leaking from their fingertips was enough for you to benefit for life, wasn't it?"

Rozokaira smiled.

"I can imagine you, doing menial, degrading work, desperately trying to steal knowledge... or begging your master for a book he didn't care about but was a treasure to you."

"..." Lauriel's fist clenched under the table, veins faintly bulging on his neck.

Clearly, Rozokaira had struck a nerve, and Lauriel had no desire to revisit that time.

"Oh, please don't be angry. I'm not mocking you, Mr. Moramo. I'm marveling at your perseverance and resolve."

The wealthy merchant tapped Lauriel's glass on the table.

"To have such determination, to strive to this extent, and to reach your current level... that's remarkable."

"...I appreciate your recognition, Mr. Heg."

Lauriel exhaled slowly, trying to keep his voice calm.

He was already prepared.

As he had said before, a man who could become the richest in a city was no fool.

Since Rozokaira wasn't foolish, how could he not investigate his background?

"But here, we need to discuss something more practical."

"You have the right to say that," Rozokaira laughed.

"This move of yours leaves me with nothing but admiration."

Lauriel had secured control over the entire farmland's grain production.

The truly fatal aspect was his control over timing.

Even if merchants wanted to raise prices to wrest back bargaining power from Lauriel, it was impossible.

They had bought too much grain in a short time, and their funds couldn't cover higher prices for the next week's harvest.

Meanwhile, merchants limited to selling in Little Pelican City couldn't recover their funds quickly—could the city's people eat dozens or hundreds of tons of grain in seven days?

Even if they realized mid-process and tried selling to other territories, the funds' return would take time.

In short, they couldn't offer high enough prices to tempt the farmers next time.

Moreover, raising purchase prices meant raising selling prices, which risked buyers balking.

And raising purchase costs while keeping selling prices steady?

Such merchants didn't exist in this world.

But Rozokaira could.

Not only because he was Little Pelican City's richest man, but because he only took Lauriel and Henk's grain and sold it immediately to other territories.

Not only did he avoid a funding gap, but he also made a profit.

Other territories in Watson Territory had far greater purchasing power than Little Pelican City.

He didn't sell too much at once and given Qingling City's demand for this wheat, even at a higher price, many would buy.

Rozokaira could naturally afford to buy the farmers' wheat at a higher price without pressure.

And when the other farmers, through Lauriel's "negotiations," truly earned higher incomes...

No one would sell their grain at a lower price anymore.

They would only recognize this price, only recognize... Lauriel.

"In just a few days, you've become their representative. Until someone buys this wheat at a higher price, no one can shake your position."

Rozokaira shook his head with a laugh.

"But with wheat of such terrifying yield and speed, who would be foolish enough to buy it at a higher price? The current price, pushed just a bit higher, is already nearing its limit."

Within reasonable rules, price fluctuations were normal.

Little Pelican City's merchants bought most farmers' wheat at a "reasonably low price," but Rozokaira could offer a "reasonably high price."

With no one able to force the farmers, Lauriel, who held the decision-making power over sales, essentially controlled... all the fields outside Little Pelican City.

"Not just wheat, Mr. Heg." Lauriel took a sip of wine, striving to steady his emotions.

His father had spent all their savings to send him to serve a minor second-tier transcendent being.

There, he gained vision and knowledge, but he remained a servant, a farmer.

Lauriel knew this well, and he... despised himself for it.

Even with such strong leverage, he couldn't fully stay calm.

"That farmland can grow anything. Different grains have different harvest cycles, meaning... we could likely harvest other crops in even less than seven days."

Rozokaira paused, then said with a chuckle, "You don't need to keep emphasizing how remarkable that farmland is. I'm willing to make a big bet on it. Since you're sitting here calmly discussing with me, it means... you've made your decision, right?"

Lauriel nodded, saying decisively, "All the grain can be supplied to you, Mr. Heg. This way, dominating Watson Territory's grain market will no longer be an issue."

"We will have everything." His heart pounded wildly.

The coarse-looking, stout man, who seemed utterly unremarkable, spoke hoarsely.

"I feel the same, Mr. Moramo."

The two speculators reached an agreement at that moment.

Thus, on the thirteenth day, Rozokaira's grain guild was established in Qingling City.

On the fourteenth day, when the second seven-day cycle arrived, not a single grain grown outside Little Pelican City remained in the city, which still hadn't fully digested the previous yield.

On the seventeenth day, Rozokaira's grain guild seized one hundred percent of Qingling City's wheat market and began expanding to other territories in Watson Territory.

Also on the seventeenth day, the "Pelican Guild," established just four days prior, began building a complete grain supply chain in Qingling City.

They bought several bakeries and refused to supply the cheap, special wheat to other bakeries, instead providing unlimited supply to their own at an even lower price.

As a result, their bakeries crushed Qingling City's oldest bakery in customer traffic within four days.

It was foreseeable that not only bakeries but any wheat-related grain industry would face devastating domination by the Pelican Guild.

Four days later, on the twenty-first day, the third harvest was completed.

It was proven that this land could grow any crop regardless of conditions.

On this day, the Pelican Guild supplied Watson Territory with vast quantities of potatoes, greens, radishes... all sorts of vegetables.

In Qingling City, the heart of Watson Territory, the grain industry was almost entirely overtaken by the Pelican Guild.

It was ceaselessly supplying grain to all parts of Watson Territory—when farmers began planting short-cycle vegetables, they could produce hundreds of tons in a single day!

Thus, by the twenty-second day, the monopoly began.